Liverpool’s goal to be the Hollywood of the North has taken a major step forward with a £17 million funding boost for Littlewoods Studios.
The funding comes via the Government’s Getting Building Fund, allocated by the Combined Authority. This initial tranche of £11 million forms part of a package potentially worth an overall £17 million.
The funding also comes just days after the Government announced a £500 million insurance fund to kick-start the UK’s TV and film industry, which has been stalled by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ambitious £54 million regeneration project will transform the iconic Littlewoods Building on Edge Lane into the new home for the big and small screen.
Having laid derelict for years the building is set to become a world class film and television complex with the UK’s oldest film studios, Twickenham, already signed up as the anchor tenant. Working in partnership to deliver the project, Liverpool City Council own the freehold of the building with CAPITAL&CENTRIC owning the long lease.
Part of the funding will be used by Liverpool City Council to deliver temporary ‘pop up’ studios to be built on land neighbouring Littlewoods.
Scheduled to be operational by the end of the year, these ‘pop-up’ studios will capitalise on current demand for studio space and will enable the city region to begin to reap the economic benefits of purpose-built studio space, in advance of the main development by CAPITAL&CENTRIC.
Liverpool is the most filmed city outside of London, with 1,750 film days recorded in 2019 involving 324 productions including Sky Atlantic’s Tin Star and Netflix UK’s The Irregulars. Liverpool Film Office, the oldest in the UK, is currently administering a £2m production fund to attract more filming in the city region and this week has welcomed back the start of a number of productions.
Joe Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool, said: “Littlewoods Studios is a hugely exciting regeneration project and this funding will ensure we can deliver the studios for the people of Liverpool. With streaming services like Netflix booming during lockdown, there’s going to be more demand than ever for studio space.
“While Liverpool has a blossoming digital and film industry we want to capitalise on filming opportunities and the economic benefits they bring. Littlewoods Studios is going to change all that, providing Hollywood-standard facilities that will complete our world class offer. Now, more than ever, we need to be looking to the future and focusing on major regeneration projects that will deliver highly-skilled jobs and investment for the long term.”
In its heyday Littlewoods employed thousands of people, with the local area feeling the impact when its largest employer closed. The new studios is set to recapture this success, helping to regenerate the local area, create jobs and drive investment. According to economic experts Ekosgen, Littlewoods Studios will support up to 3,650 jobs and result in an annual boost of £199m (GVA) to the local economy.
Anchor tenant Twickenham Studios recently reaffirmed its commitment to the project, following news that they are expanding with a £50m investment supporting projects across the UK, including their new 85,000 sq.ft campus at Littlewoods. The world-renowned Twickenham Studios is famous for its work on movies such as the Oscar winning ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Blade Runner’, ‘The Italian Job’, ‘Gandhi’ and more recently ‘The Martian’ and ‘Baby Driver.
Lynn Saunders, Head of Liverpool Film Office & LCR Production Fund Manager, said: “Liverpool needs permanent sound studios to fully maximise the potential of our region’s film and TV sector. The Littlewoods project is key and when delivered will be an important part of the region’s economic recovery. This money is hugely welcome and the focus of the film office is to ensure the pop up’s are fully used. We know the demand is there and once operational they will support the ongoing development of Littlewoods, providing new job opportunities in a dynamic and growing industry.”
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor Liverpool City Region, said: “Our region has a longstanding role as the country’s cultural capital and the development of Littlewoods Studios is central to ensuring that we remain that way in the future. We have seen our region’s streets become a key location for filming in recent years, but now we will be able to capitalise on our preeminent position as a worldwide destination offering the whole creative package, driving thousands more jobs and generating millions of pounds for the local economy.”
